1:57pm: The Braves are also out on Miller, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
1:23pm: The Tigers are not going to land Miller, tweets ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes.
12:18pm: The Tigers are getting close on a deal to acquire Red Sox lefty Andrew Miller, reports Jon Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Originally drafted by Detroit, Miller was part of the trade that brought Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers.
Miller has made fairly significant leaps in performance over each of the past two years, settling into a pen role. In 2014, he has been among the most dominant relievers in baseball, striking out 14.7 batters per nine while walking just 2.8.
Detroit, of course, has already made quite a significant bullpen addition by adding Joakim Soria. But the club has also received suboptimal production from its southpaw pieces (Ian Krol and Phil Coke, primarily), seemingly leading to the interest in Miller. Of course, the club had an excellent left-hander in the pen in Drew Smyly, but moved him to the rotation as part of the team’s offseason reshuffling (which, of course, included dealing away Doug Fister for a return that included Krol and signing closer Joe Nathan).
Though it would be foolhardy to predict a hypothetical return, Miller is expected to draw fairly significant value given his dominance, though he is a free agent at the end of the year. The sides have previously discussed righty Austin Kubitza in a Miller deal, Morosi tweets, though it is not known if he is still part of the conversation. Kubitza is rated as Detroit’s 7th-overall prospect by MLB.com.
Who would be the most likely pieces in this deal if it were to happen?
Cabrera and Verlander. Let’s wait and see if DET adds a 3rd piece!
Throw in V-Mart and done deal.
Might need to add Scherzer. Not sure if that deal is even yet.
To add Scherzer, the Sox would have to put in 500k or so.
They’ll throw in Stephen Drew!
Gold glover, Future HOF Sir Stephen Drew? that might be an overpay on Boston’s side.
Might as well add Sanchez while your at it.
At this point moving Verlander wouldn’t be a bad move.
Robbie Ray and PTBNL
McCann and Crawford or Farmer or ss name later. Not Jose though.
I’m afraid to see the cost…
Based on how our other trades have gone you’ll probably send us back Phil Coke.
Maybe it’s a return policy on Iglesias due to pre existing damage
Darn it. That’s the guy..
Yup pretty much lol
Weirdly, Peavy thus far has probably produced the best and most useful return. “shaking head”
I could only pray Coke will be part of the deal. Take ALAL too
It has to be done.
Miller and Cabrera celebrate a WS victory together? (traded for each other… with others).
I don’t know what’s wrong with you folks who think they gave up too much for Price. Clearly, youdon’tunderstand the trade process. You have give something of value to receive something of value. The trade was a great move. Jackson has been hot, which allowed D.D. to compete the. deal. The Tigers made out great! You’ll be singing a different tune in October.
This better be good… I really didn’t want to see him go
What about today would make you think THIS trade will be good? 😛
Haha well I don’t really mind the trades they’ve done so far, apart from the fact im totally confused about what they’re trying to do with all the pieces
I don’t agree with ya. The sox have gotten a solid return so far. Bolstered their offense. I really do think the Sox have a good chance in resigning Lester this offseason
The Lackey for Craig & Kelly trade doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for me. I doubt that either guy will wind up being major contributors for the Sox. Maybe the Sox didn’t want to pay Lackey $500K next year
For now, I’m going to have faith in Ben. Maybe he’s got some crazy trick up his sleeve. Flip Cespedes to another contender in need of a power bat?
I mean what would you have done? What prospects would have been better bets to help the team contend in 2015? Or would you have taken your chances on Lester walking and getting a comp pick in return instead of a top 20 OF? Or would you have taken the risk of Lackey retiring and receiving nothing in return?
These moves aren’t happening in a vacuum you have to think big picture
Yoenis Cespedes is rocking basically the same WAR as Brock Holt and is coming off a sub-.200 July. Cespedes could’ve been one player in a package, but on his own he’s a terrible return. Craig and Kelly are useless right now. Craig has the possibility of remembering how to hit, I guess?
Cespdedes has a .275 BABIP. Holt has a .370 BABIP. ROS projections have the former at 116 WRC+ and the latter at 88 WRC+ but if you think Holt and Cespedes are equally valuable then their really is no reason to continue trying to have a logical argument with you on the Lester Trade.
Want to know another player that had a terrible age 29/30 year (83 OPS+) and then went to Boston. Adrian Beltre who had a 140 OPS+ with Boston. Allen Craig was a 140 WRC+ player for 3 years before this why do you think he can’t rebound. Would honestly rather have Grichuch/Piscotyy for Lackey when neither of those project to be what Craig was 2011-2013 and haven’t ever shown they can hit in the majors?
Craig and a prospect or two would’ve been fine. But Craig as the headliner is a joke based on the season he’s having. Plus the Sox have nowhere to play him.
And I know Cespedes is historically more valuable than Holt, but he’s not as good as his rookie season, doesn’t get on base well, and is only around through next season and can’t even get us a compensation pick. Lester was worth more than just him alone. Lester+Gomes should’ve easily yielded Cespedes+Milone+pick+prospect.
Ok maybe you are right and the team didn’t maximize value but I have a hard time thinking that their was an offer out there for Lester that would beat Cespedes. Craig + Kelly for Lackey is tougher to assess but if Craig rebounds like many players have before (happens a lot) you get 3 years of a 120-140 WRC+ type 1B/OF + a high leverage relieve/potential back end starter for a half a year of Lackey and the uncertainty of him coming back or not.
I understand you wanting more value but can you honestly say the two trades were pennies on the dollar and that Craig and Kelly are awful players. Personally it seems someone is disappointing their favorite teams players value didn’t get back as much as he wanted and is now bashing the deal overly so.
No packages for Lester/Lackey could have positioned them to contend better in 2015.
The Red Sox didn’t get value on these trades. Not even close. I’d love to see Ortiz/Napoli/Cespedes/Craig be a dynamic middle of the order next year, but then Cespedes’s contract is up, and Craig doesn’t have anywhere to play in 2015. AND the Sox have no reliable pitching for 2015 now without hoping they can re-sign Lester or make some terrible deal involving Scherzer or Shields.
Don’t worry Tigers are going to pay above market value.
Cabrera for Miller, straight up
Already happened (with others).
I like how you think 😉
Boston is not playin around
Porcello?
Red Soxes were in West Michigan scouting some good young pitchers.
Because Miller was so good in Detroit last time…
Was not bad. Good enough to get Miggy.
When he was young and a starter? Yea. Now that he’s 29
And has an ERA under 3 and a whip under 1 and has a 2.1 WAR since becoming a reliever. I want him.
A lot of what the Sox did when they rehabbed him was mental, hopefully a trade back to Detroit doesn’t mess up the good vibes
Miller for Dirks and a prepaid HSA card
Red Soxes are ready got two OFs today.
That’s ok Dirks doesn’t play baseball these days
I would like to see the Sox package Miller and Koji in a deal to the tigers in order to maximize the return. (I know it won’t happen though :P)
Ben: you guys still have Magglio ordonez?
Actually the Tigers signed Magglio Ordonez Jr. two weeks ago
Way too young for our team….how about Tony Clark??
Miller to the MLBPA for Tony Clark.
Impressive retort.
38th round pick
By the time Monday rolls around Red Sox going to be using a triple a team vs St. Louis
At least it will be a good Triple A team.
Kelly starts against St. Louis. Throws a no hitter. The crowd goes mild.
Time for the Tigers to explore dealing for Cameron Maybin too.
The Sox will throw in Badenhop
It will be some minor leaguer that you guys have never heard of. Don’t get too excited.
Umm, excuse me. Ben only trades for veterans that we wish we’d never heard of.
Tigers are trading Dirks + Reynaldo Vasquez for Andrew Miller
Better not give up Miller for cheap…
Boston is going to flip every single player they got today for Stanton…:P
You can only hope
It’s the only way half of the stuff they did today makes sense. The Marlins wanted a starter controller past this season…Kelly. Cespedes would replace Stanton….Craig as a solid bounce back bat and then throw a few prospects in for Stanton.
Cespedes and Craig make too much money for Miami.
It’s a possible scenerio albeit an unlikely one.
I feel like Ben is playing MLB the Show and hitting random so that he generates trades that make no sense in reality.
I did that last night and even I walked away with Dylan Bundy.
Everytime I play MLB the Show I come away with everybodies Top Prospects, too easy, almost like making a trade with RAJ.
So my Miller for Iglesias hope may actually come to fruition.
Not a bad idea. Tigers really like Suarez now. He is injured?
I still don’t believe Iglesias can hit. I know he was on fire last year with Boston, but I remember watching his first 10 games or so and I couldn’t believe how lucky he was getting. He was hitting soft grounders here and there, and they just happened to find the right spots.
sox have no need for Iglesias. Bogaerts will play short for the rest of the season and Marrero is just about ready to go as well.
Bogaerts shouldn’t play shortstop, they decided to make him a full time 3rd baseman and that’s how they should keep him.
He actually performed better in the field at short than he has been at third, but i agree he wont remain at short. I figure they give him the season at short to let him prove to them and himself that he can’t play there before they give up and move him. Either way Iglesias makes no sense.
A little bit shocking, because much like the Braves, the Tigers don’t have much in their system that the Sox should want.
A little bit shocking, because much like the Braves, the Tigers don’t have much in their system that the Sox should want.
Well now I’m confused.
I guess the Tigers didn’t want to part ways with Sean Casey.
Oh dammit I’d already ordered my Phil Coke jersey
Obviously the Red Sox told the Tigers they want Smyly and Castellanos and that wasn’t happening.
Most dominant reliever not named Wade Davis.
Ever hear of Aroldis Chapman?
Oh Wren, go in and get Miller…NOW…don’t let DDDDD beat you to it. Come on…come on!
ugh, we need help from somewhere!!
Orioles
Fair point.
I still think their trying to get pieces for Stanton, it’s the only thing that makes sense anymore.